Interlocking furniture

ABSTRACT

A flexible shelf arrangement is provided having a plurality of shelves maintained in spaced parallel, horizontal position by a plurality of vertical parts of equal height disposed therebetween. The shelves are each provided with a plurality of orifices which are vertically aligned with the corresponding orifices on the other shelves. An equal number of vertical uprights extend into the orifices to maintain the lateral stability of the arrangement. Grooves are provided in the vertical parts and in the upper and lower surfaces of each shelf to hold a side panel in a vertical position.

United States Patent [191 Jourdain June 26, 1973 1 INTERLOCKING FURNITURE [76] Inventor: Leon Joseph Jourdain, Rue du Vieux-Moulin 2, Maransart, Belgium [22] Filed: July 1, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 158,791

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 1, 1970 Belgium 752821 [52] US. Cl. 211/148, 108/101 [51] Int. Cl. A47f 5/00 [58] Field of Search 211/148, 177;

lO8/9l,l0l, 108-111, 60;312/257, 108; 287/2092 E; 52/263, 495, 282, 281

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,635 5/1937 Sharp 52/282 X 2,718,034 9/1955 Brown 5 2/282 2,944,861 7/1960 Lessin 108/60 X 844,071 2/1907 Weston.... 108/101 1,142,932 6/1915 Clark 108/101 UX 1,989,849 2/1935 Davies 108/101 2,645,545 7/1953 Rozafl'y 211/148 X 3,141,423 7/1964 Christensen 211/148 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 649,967 2/1915 Great Britain 211/148 Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Att0rneyRichard C. Sughrue et a].

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT arrangement. Grooves are provided in the vertical parts and in the upper and lower surfaces of each shelf to hold a side panel in a vertical position.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 INTERLOCKING FURNITURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention concerns a storage cupboard having not less than two shelves or horizontal planes.

The construction of such a storage cupboard with different shelves as in the case of a bookcase, linen cupboard, etc., poses various problems which are particularly important when they are to be assembled only by interlocking.

The first problem to be solved is that of maintaining the distance between the shelves constant. The second is to prevent them from sliding laterally in relation to each other, even if such lateral sliding does not in any way affect the parallelism of the planes constituted by these shelves in relation to each other nor the distance or the height between the shelves.

Moreover, in addition to simple shelving, the storage cupboards must have sidewalls and rear walls as well as pivoting or sliding doors to protect the items stored in them from dust and light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION parts have a compressive strength suitable-for maintaining a constant distance between the shelves and between the lower shelf and the floor.

According to a first embodiment, the depth of the orifices is equal to the thickness of the shelves and the uprights pass through these orifices.

According to a second embodiment, each shelf is equipped on both horizontal surfaces with orifices whose depth is less than half the thickness of the shelf and each upright consists of several sections whose ends fit into the recesses of the orifices provided in the upper surface of any given shelf and the underface of the next higher shelf.

The uprights may be constituted by several sections fitted into each other. The vertical parts actingv as spacers between the shelves may or may not be integral with these upright sections. The vertical parts may have on at least one of their surfaces at least one longitudinal groove corresponding to grooves provided in the surface and underface of the horizontal shelves whereby these vertical and horizontal grooves are located in the same vertical plane so that they can hold a vertical panel in place.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cupboard shelf according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a cupboard according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a section along III-III of FIG. '2; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section of a cupboard according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first form of the cupboard according to the invention. In this form, the rectangular shelves are provided with four orifices l as shown specifically in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a section of an arrangement consisting of three horizontal shelves 10, 20 and 30. The orifices provided in each shelf allow the uprights 2 with the same profile as the orifices to pass through the latter. This prevents the shelves from becoming displaced laterally in relation to each other. The vertical parts 3, e.g., in the form of a rectangular paralleliped, maintain constant the distance between the shelves and between the lower shelf and the fioor. In this form, each vertical part 3 is a sleeve which fits' around the upright 2 for the desired distance between the shelves. The lower end of part 3 rests on the upper surface of any given shelf and the underface of the next higher shelf rests on the upper end of the vertical part 3. The vertical parts not only maintain the spacing between the shelves but also carry the load of the shelves. Obviously, the uprights 2 may consist of several sections fitting into each other. The vertical parts 3 may or may not be integral with the sections of the uprights.

According to a preferred form of the invention, the vertical parts 3 have on some of their faces longitudinal grooves 4 as-shown in FIG. 3 which presents a section along III-III of FIG. 2. These are intended to receive the lateral and rear walls of the cupboard as well as the sliding doors. The ends of the grooves 4 correspond advantageously with such perpendicular grooves 5 provided in the upper and lower faces of the shelves and located in the same vertical plane. Instead of sliding doors, hinged doors may be provided. In that case, the hinges may be mounted on the vertical parts 3.

. We find that the cupboard according to the invention can be assembled easily and rapidly by simple interlocking of the superposed parts. The profiled uprights engaged in the orifices of the shelves prevent the latter from lateral motion.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second form of the cupboard according to the invention. The horizontal shelves 40, 50 and 60 now have, on their two horizontal faces, corresponding orifices whosedepth is less than half of the thickness of the shelves. The uprights consist of sections 2a, 2b and 2c whose ends fit into the recess of the orifices provided in the upper face of a shelf and in the lower face of the next higher shelf.

It is understood that the forms of the invention described above are only particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the invention and that modifications may be made in them without departing from the frame of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture comprising a plurality of shelves disposed in parallel spaced horizontal planes with vertical panels therebetween, each shelf being provided with a number n of orifices of a given profile, grooves formed in each surface of said shelves between each succeeding orifice provided therein, a number n of uprights having a profile corresponding to that of said orifices and disposed in the latter, a number n of vertical parts of any given geometrical form arranged between each shelf, the next lower shelf and the floor,

means retaining said vertical parts in position, each ver tical part having two orthogonal faces formed longitudinally thereon along the length of each vertical part, each orthogonal face having a longitudinal groove therein, the grooves of each vertical part aligning with the grooves formed in the planar surfaces of two adjacent shelves, each set of said aligned grooves in the planar surfaces of said two adjacent shelves and in two succeeding vertical parts receiving said vertical panels between said adjacent shelves and corresponding vertical parts, whereby two adjacent vertical panels are maintained at right angles with respect to each other,

said vertical parts having a compressive strength suitable for maintaining constant the distance between the shelves and between the lower shelf and the ground.

2. An article of furniture as set forth in claim '1 wherein each shelf is equipped, on its two horizontal faces, with corresponding orifices whose depth is less than half the thickness of theshelf, and wherein each' upright is comprised of several sections whose ends fit intoithe orifices provided in the upper face of a given shelfvand in the lower face of the next higher shelf. 4

3; An article of furniture as set forth in claimf 11 wherein each of saiduprights extends through theorifices of each shelf which are vertically aligned.

4. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 1 I wherein each vertical upright is comprisediof several 

1. An article of furniture comprising a plurality of shelves disposed in parallel spaced horizontal planes with vertical panels therebetween, each shelf being provided with a number n of orifices of a given profile, grooves formed in each surface of said shelves between each succeeding orifice provided therein, a number n of uprights having a profile corresponding to that of said orifices and disposed in the latter, a number n of vertical parts of any given geometrical form arranged between each shelf, the next lower shelf and the floor, means retaining said vertical pArts in position, each vertical part having two orthogonal faces formed longitudinally thereon along the length of each vertical part, each orthogonal face having a longitudinal groove therein, the grooves of each vertical part aligning with the grooves formed in the planar surfaces of two adjacent shelves, each set of said aligned grooves in the planar surfaces of said two adjacent shelves and in two succeeding vertical parts receiving said vertical panels between said adjacent shelves and corresponding vertical parts, whereby two adjacent vertical panels are maintained at right angles with respect to each other, said vertical parts having a compressive strength suitable for maintaining constant the distance between the shelves and between the lower shelf and the ground.
 2. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 1 wherein each shelf is equipped, on its two horizontal faces, with corresponding orifices whose depth is less than half the thickness of the shelf, and wherein each upright is comprised of several sections whose ends fit into the orifices provided in the upper face of a given shelf and in the lower face of the next higher shelf.
 3. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said uprights extends through the orifices of each shelf which are vertically aligned.
 4. An article of furniture as set forth in claim 1 wherein each vertical upright is comprised of several sections whose ends can be superposed, and wherein each vertical part is integral with a section of the upright with the length of the vertical part being less than that of the section of the upright. 